Inmate debt and fees policies/reports (State-level) (Department of Corrections)
| Submitted | April 28, 2016 |
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Communications
From: Beryl Lipton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act ("APRA"), I hereby request the following records:
The following materials regarding the assessment, collection, and balances of inmate fees and debt:
• All policies and procedures regarding the goods, services, or any other expenses for which inmates are or may become liable. Please include all policies on the garnishment/disbursement of funds from inmate accounts and wages (such as those related to mandatory saving, mandatory deductions, coverage of care, personal necessities, etc.), as well as all relevant reporting requirements. Please include all relevant data as regards to medical payments, room and board costs, meal fees, stamps and postage, hygienic materials, and any other expenses for which inmates are or may become liable, etc.
• All reports, databases, spreadsheets, or equivalent materials regarding current debts/restitution paid to or owed to this department or any facility/agency under its jurisdiction. Please include all available segregable information (excluding individual personally-identifying elements, as necessary and appropriate), including but not limited to the reason for the debt/fee, the amount of the debt, the facility at which the debt was incurred, whether the debt is held by an inmate in custody or released, any available individual data regarding record of prior release, etc.
If further clarification is necessary, a phone call will happily be arranged.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
From: Kelly, Kathleen
MuckRock
DEPT MR 25457
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
To whom it may concern,
I am writing in response to your Access to Public Records Act request received via email on April 28, 2016. Please find my responses immediately following your request below.
You requested the following materials regarding the assessment, collection, and balances of inmate fees and debt:
• All policies and procedures regarding the goods, services, or any other expenses for which inmates are or may become liable, including all policies on the garnishment/disbursement of funds from inmate accounts and wages (such as those related to mandatory saving, mandatory deductions, coverage of care, personal necessities, etc.), as well as all relevant reporting requirements and including all relevant data as regards to medical payments, room and board costs, meal fees, stamps and postage, hygienic materials, and any other expenses for which inmates are or may become liable, etc.
- Please find attached the following Rhode Island Department of Corrections Policies that relate to this request.
o 2.16-3 Inmate Commissary
o 2.17-5 Inmate Accounts
o 2.28-3 Medical Co-Pay
o 11.01-6 Code of Inmate Discipline
o 13.03-3 Access to the Courts and Legal Materials
o 25.01-3 Institutional Library Services
• All reports, databases, spreadsheets, or equivalent materials regarding current debts/restitution paid to or owed to this department or any facility/agency under its jurisdiction, including all available segregable information (excluding individual personally-identifying elements, as necessary and appropriate), including but not limited to the reason for the debt/fee, the amount of the debt, the facility at which the debt was incurred, whether the debt is held by an inmate in custody or released, any available individual data regarding record of prior release, etc.
- Please see attached document entitled “Inmate Accounts”.
In accordance with Rhode Island General Laws §38-2-8, if you are dissatisfied with this response you are entitled to file a complaint with the Department of the Attorney General, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, or the Rhode Island Superior Court of Providence County. Additional information concerning the Access to Public Records Act is available through the Attorney General’s website at www.riag.ri.gov.
Thank you,
Kathleen Kelly
Chief Legal Counsel
Rhode Island Department of Corrections
40 Howard Ave., Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 462-2546
Fax: (401) 462-2583
kathleen.kelly@doc.ri.gov
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